1. Cut three 22-in. (55.9 cm) pieces of beading wire. Align the wire ends, press them onto a 1⁄2-in. (13 mm) piece of painter’s tape, and press the painter’s tape into a plastic bobbin (1a). Without twisting the wires, wrap them around the bobbin (1b) until about 7 in. (17.8 cm) remain.

Step 1c

Snap the bobbin closed. Repeat to make a total of 16 bobbins with three wires each. Snap eight bobbins together to make a stack (1c). Repeat with the other eight bobbins.

Step 2

2. Cut a 2-in. (51 mm) piece of painter’s tape, and set it sticky-side up on your work surface. Align all the wire ends and place them on the tape. Use a toothpick or scrap wire to spread adhesive onto and between all the wires. Carefully fold the tape around the wire bundle, keeping it neat. Set the bundle aside to dry.

3. When the glue has dried, guide the wire bundle down through the hole in a kumihimo disk, and hold the disk with your nondominant hand. With your other hand, arrange the wire groups as shown.

Figure a

Figure b

4 To braid the wires, use your dominant hand, and work in pairs of movements as follows:

• Remove the wires from slot 8, and move them clockwise around the disk into slot 25 (Figure a).
• Remove the wires from slot 24, and move them counterclockwise into slot 9 (Figure b).

Repeat the entire sequence of movements, rotating around the disk as you work. Determine the desired finished length of your bracelet, subtract about 1 in. (25.5 mm) for the clasp, and continue until the braid is this length.

Leaving the wires on the disk, use a toothpick or scrap wire to spread adhesive on and between them at the end of the braid. Allow the glue to dry.

Remove the braid from the disk, and remove the tape from the braid. Cut the wires at each end so the braid is the desired length and the ends are even.

Step 5

Finishing

5. To make an end cap, cut 12 in. (30.5 cm) of 18-gauge (1.02 mm) wire. Using a 4 mm mandrel or the 4 mm jaw of coiling or roundnose pliers, wrap the wire to make a 3⁄8-in. (9.5 mm) coil. Test-fit the coil over one end of the braid, adjust the coil if needed, and trim the wire tail flush.

Step 6

6. Insert flatnose pliers under the last half of the last coil, and make a 90° bend to form a loop. Apply adhesive to one end of the braid, and slide the coiled end cap in place. Let dry. Repeat steps 5–6 at the other end of the braid.

Step 7

7. Open six 4 mm 20-gauge (0.81 mm) jump rings, or make your own. Decide where your charms will hang from your braid. Using an open jump ring, attach a charm and a wire in the braid, and close the jump ring. Repeat with the remaining charms.

Step 8

8. On one half of a clasp, open its jump ring, attach the loop of an end cap, and close the jump ring. Repeat at the other end.

Tip!

• If you’re going to set up the bobbins in the evening and work your braid the next day, E-6000 is a fine adhesive to use. If you can’t wait, try Euro Tools Super New Glue instead. It dries rock solid in 10–15 minutes.

• I suggested starting with 22-in. (55.9 cm) wires so that if you make an error partway through, you can just keep braiding until you have a usable length. If you were to start with a shorter length and make a mistake, you’d have to scrap the entire project. Once you get the hang of this technique, you can start with 15-in. (38.1 cm) wires instead.